Hyderabad, July 11 (NationPress) The Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, emphasized on Friday that opposing Hindi without reason could hinder development.

He pointed out that in a world advancing towards educational, employment, and business prospects without language barriers, opposing Hindi blindly would be detrimental to future generations.

Speaking during the golden jubilee celebrations of the Department of Official Language in Hyderabad, the Jana Sena Party leader expressed his support for Hindi as a national language that fosters unity across the nation.

Kalyan noted that while languages like English, Urdu, and Persian are widely accepted, opposing Hindi is irrational and politically motivated. He remarked, 'Our mother tongue is for home conversations, but Hindi serves as our national language when we are out.'

He further clarified that acquiring knowledge of Hindi does not equate to a loss of identity, but rather enhances it. 'Learning a new language is not defeat; it signifies collaboration. It’s not surrendering; it’s an expansion.'

The actor-politician also highlighted that South Indian films are generating revenue by being dubbed in Hindi. 'If we require Hindi for business and recognition, what is the issue with learning it?' he questioned.

Kalyan affectionately referred to Hindi as the 'grandmother tongue' and acknowledged the diversity of Dravidian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. However, he reiterated that Hindi's status as the national language brings pride to the country.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, commented that the protests against Hindi in certain states are politically motivated. 'Such minor issues are exploited to incite people for political advantage before elections.'

He shared that although his mother tongue is Telugu, he learned Hindi upon entering politics.

The Union Minister praised the Department of Official Language for its efforts over the past decade to promote Hindi and regional languages, alongside the introduction of the New Education Policy 2020, which supports education in mother tongues.

'Our languages are treasures of our culture, symbols of our identity, and the backbone of our democracy, preserving our rich linguistic heritage. The way forward is to embrace and use them widely. I encourage everyone to proudly utilize our Rashtra Bhasha and Matru Bhasha.' he stated.

The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, also spoke at the event.